A BIOLOGICAL INVENTORY
OF BREEDING BIRDS AT
THE MARSH-BILLINGS-ROCKEFELLER
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
AND ADJACENT LANDS

Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2005/005

Steven D. Faccio

Conservation Biology Department
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
27023 Church Hill Road
Woodstock, Vermont 05091

September 2003

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Northeast Region
Inventory & Monitoring Program
Northeast Temperate Network
Woodstock, Vermont

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Abstract

The 555-acre Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park was established in 1992 to interpret conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America. In order to help guide the development of a forest management plan, a biological inventory of the breeding birds within the park and adjacent lands was conducted in 2001 and 2002. A variety of field techniques were used to document the composition and distribution of birds in the park. A total of 91 bird species were detected during the 2-year project, 72 of which were confirmed or suspected of breeding within the park or adjacent lands, 16 were considered local breeders that may nest occasionally or in the future on park lands, while 3 species were strictly transients. Of the 96 species expected to be found breeding in the park 86 (89.6%) were observed. Twenty-three of the detected species (25%) appear either on the Partners in Flight (PIF) priority list for the Northern New England Region, or on the Vermont list of rare and uncommon birds.

During point count surveys, 73 species were detected, with an interpolated species richness of 92 (±4.69 SE). Fourteen species were detected at >50% of the survey points, including 5 (36%) listed by PIF as high conservation priorities for the Northern New England Region (Ovenbird, Blackburnian Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee, Wood Thrush, and Scarlet Tanager).

Recommendations for forest management at MABI include maintaining and/or enhancing midaged to mature forest conditions, and increasing structural diversity in the understory. These goals will benefit the suite of species that are among the most frequently encountered and abundant, and also contains the majority of conservation priority species for the region. Hayfield management recommendations include a delayed mowing regime to maintain Bobolink populations, and establishing American Kestrel nest boxes or appropriate snags to provide this species with potential nesting opportunities. Since the majority of conservation priority species breeding at MABI are forest-breeding landbirds, a monitoring program for the park should target this group as a representative sample. However, since point count surveys limited to the park would have very low power to detect trends, developing a network of monitoring sites in the area is recommended.

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